Pridemore is a Republican state representative running to oust Evers as head of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Evers is completing his first term in that office.

Wednesday's debate comes less than three weeks before the April 2 election.

The race for the nonpartisan position has not garnered much attention even though Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal released last month has heightened the debate over a variety of education issues, including the expansion of private school vouchers and freezing public school spending.

Evers opposes Walker's plan while Pridemore supports it.

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